Lots of places claim to be pet friendly but doggone it, Knoxville really is. No bones about it. I know… I live here. Allow me to explain…
My human likes to go on adventures. Sometimes that means walking or hiking a trail. Yup. You can do that here. Unlike most National Parks and some State Parks, Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness is completely pet friendly. From greenways along the Tennessee River and trails along the quarries to the steepest hike at House Mountain, you’ll see dogs, on leash, enjoying the adventure and posing for selfies.
Speaking of selfies, politely “guide” your human towards the murals around Knoxville. They will love them, and YOU’LL love the fact that the ones downtown are fantastically close to one of many PetSafe® Dog Parks throughout the county. Truthfully, there are great parks for us everywhere… including World’s Fair Park, Concord Park, Lakeshore Park and Suttree Landing Park – just to name a FEW. But the dog park downtown is just for us and it’s right in the middle of the action… action you won’t find in just any town.
What kind of action? Glad you asked. Live music. Does that make your ears perk up? You can enjoy it with your human at many outdoor festivals but also (wait for it) INSIDE at the Visit Knoxville Visitors Center – home to the WDVX Blue Plate Special, a live free radio show. Make note – they also give out locally made dog treats.
Within blocks of the Visitors Center, you can actually go into shops like Mast General Store, Bliss and Union Avenue Books. Be sure to say hi to my friend Scout when you’re there. He’s there ALL the time. Pro tip: nearby CitiFid-O carries the most exclusive line of pet products in Knoxville.
Be warned, you’re going to pass some amazing smells along the way. The restaurants downtown offer all kinds of great food. Hopefully your human will stop to eat – it doesn’t matter where. The scraps are all delicious, and there’s almost ALWAYS a water bowl waiting for you. Which reminds me… there are TONS of great “watering holes” here for your human. Coffee shops, distilleries, LOTS of breweries on Knoxville’s Ale Trail. Almost all of them have fantastic patios, and you’ll always be able to sniff out some friends.
As I mentioned, I live here, but I know those of you visiting are in for a real treat at the pet-friendly hotels around town. From the time you check in, you’ll get top notch treatment and tons of lovin’.
I’m telling you, people here LOVE US! Most people know that the University of Tennessee’s mascot, Smokey, is a bluetick coonhound. That dude is like THE dog in town – total celebrity status with 11 statues on campus! But what most people don’t know is there is also a War Dog Memorial on campus outside UT’s Veterinary Medical Center. A noble Doberman pinscher represents hundreds of heroic war dogs that served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. The memorial is an exact replica of the official memorial in Guam and honors not only the war dogs but symbolizes the special connection people share with dogs.
What can I say? Knoxville has gone to the dogs… in the best way possible. I can’t wait for you to come visit!
